Cab and like structure for toy vehicles



April 2, 1963 B. E. BALTHAZOR CAB AND LIKE STRUCTURE FOR TOY VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 6, 1961 FIG.|

INVENTOR. B. E. BALTHAZOR ATTORNEY April 2, 1963 B. BALTHAZOR CAB AND LIKE STRUCTURE FOR TOY VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 6, 1961 INVENTOR B. E. BALTHAZOR ATTORNEY 3,083,501 CAB AND LIKE STRUCTURE F R T0! VEI-liCLEfi Bernard E. Balthazar, Molina, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Buddy I. Corporation, East Moline, IlL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 87,375 (Jlairns. (Cl. 46-223) This invention relates to a toy vehicle and more particularly to improved cab and similar structure therefor.

The design and manufacture of toy vehicles as either simulations or scale-models of actual vehicles present sev eral problems, since these toys, like many others, can be economically produced only by mass-production methods. The desire of the designer to simulate so far as possible actual vehicle structure leads to rather ingenius solutions of some of these problems, but in many cases adequate solutions have not been afforded and in other areas there is room for improvement in the development of structural and functional detail.

For example, in the embodiment of a toy vehicle simulating a truck having an operators cab, it has heretofore been relatively common to provide a simulated windshield but, so far as is known, no toy vehicle has a cab structure embodying a one-piece construction ineluding, in addition to the windshield, window panes for the opposite sides and rear of the cab. Accordingly, it is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide such combination window-pane structure including front, rear and opposite side window panes. It is a further object to provide this structure in the form of a onepiece element of relatively rigid transparent material, which may be any one of the well-known high-impact plastics suitable for that purpose.

In those instances in which the vehicles are formed of sheet metal, for example, the die problem becomes acute, and it has been found feasible to form several components and ultimately to assemble these. This presents subsidiary problems in painting and assembling, for it is desirable to pro-assemble as many components as possible and run this assembly through the paint line rather than running the separate components through the paint line. In those cases in which unpainted components ultimately appear in the final assembly, the structure must be such as to lend itself to addition of these unpainted components after the painting process is completed. This is particularly true in the case of a windshield or combination multipane window unit as provided according to the present invention, for obviously such unit, if preassembled, would be painted along with the rest of the vehicle unless masked, an expensive procedure. Therefore, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a cab structure in which the cab top may be partially preassembled in such manner as to subsequently allow the insertion and final assembly of an unpainted component such as the combination multi-window unit just referred to. Although it is known to provide a cab top having a pre-assembled position accommodating painting, such prior structure does not allow for the insertion of relatively bulky components such as the multi-window unit provided according to the present invention. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide the cab top with cooperating parts associated with the remainder of the vehicle so as to allow such pre-assembly that will maintain the cab top in pre-assembled position during the painting operation and yet will allow insertion of the multi-window unit. In this respect, it is a subsidiary object to provide a pre-assembled relationship such that the connections between the cab top and the remainder of the vehicle will withstand separation even though the vehicle is inverted top from" bottom or end for end. In

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connection with the multi-window unit, it is an object to provide the arrangement in such manner that once the unit is assembled between the cab top and bottom it will remain in place against relative displacement during normal usage.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent as a preferred embodiment thereof is disclosed, by way of example, in the ensuing description and accompanying sheets of drawings, the figures of which are described below.

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a representative toy vehicle embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section as seen along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a similarly enlarged section as seen along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a section, drawn to the scale of FIG- URES 2 and 3, as seen along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a similar section, as seen along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view showing two components in what might be regarded as a pie-assembled condition in which the vehicle is inverted.

FIGURE 7 shows the pre-assembled components just prior to completion of the assembly in which the multiwindow unit is installed.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective of the multi-window unit.

The vehicle chosen for the purposes of illustration is of the pick-up type having a forward part 10 including components of the hood, side walls and front fenders, and a rearward cargo-carrying box 12, the two of which make up a longitudinal or fore-and-aft body carried on front and rear wheels 14 and 16 respectively.

The front part 10 is preferably formed of sheet metal and in addition to the hood and front fenders includes opposite side walls 18 and a rear wall 20, all of which are generally upright and all of which terminate at upper portions in the form of inwardly turned integral flanges 22 for the walls 13 and 24 for the rear wall 20. The hood is extended rearwardly as a transverse front flange 26, and these flanges respectively establish front, rear and opposite side portions or elements of a generally horizontally deck structure indicated in its entirety by the numeral 28. In a preferred embodiment, these portions or flanges will be horizontally coplanar; although, some deviations may be permitted without affecting the significant aspects of the invention. The die in which the forward part 19 is formed of one-piece construction is so designed that in the formation of the flange 22, 24 and 26, a generally rectangular opening 30 is provided. The shape of this opening of course establishes the generally rectangular of these flanges as viewed from above. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the inner marginal portions of the flanges 22, 24- and 26 may be downwardly turned to afford a marginal reenforcing rim 32.

The front part of the vehicle, to the extent that it includes the walls 18, I8 and 26', together with the forward portion 26 of the deck structure 23, may be said to define an operators compartment having the rectangular open ing 39. In the assembled vehicle, this operators compartrnent is completed by the addition of a cab top, indicated in its entirety by the numeral 34 and a window pane unit in the form of a generally rectangular one-piece element 36 of relatively rigid transparent material, which may be any of the well-known high-impact plastics. As seen in FIGURE 1, the unit or structural element 36 is sandwiched between the deck structure 28 and the cab 34. It is in the manner of assembly and the completed relationship among the several components that certain novel features of the invention reside, which will be apparent from the following.

Each of the fore-and-aft or side portions 22 of the deck structure 28 has therein an aperture in the form of a fore-and-aft slot 53, and these. slots are of course transversely spaced apart and are transversely alined (ElGURE 2). The rear or transverse portion 24 of the deck structure 23 has therein a pair of apertures 1n the form or a pair of transversely spaced apart and alined transverse slots it}. These slots are of course spaced rearwardl of the alined front slots 38.

' meat 36 to the front as a windshield 50. Each front pillar 44 and the rear pillar 36 at the same side of the cab are spaced apart fore and aft so as to expose the side wall 48 of the unit 36 as a side window pane. In the present case, the unit 36 is so constructed as to give the appearance that the door window is partly opened. The transverse spacing between the rear pillars to is such as to expose a substantial area of the unit 36 to the rear as a rear window pane 52. The configuration of the cab top 34 relative to the rear pillars 46 and a depending marginal rear flange 54 of the top 52 may best be seen in FIGURE 4, wherein it is clear that the portions 46, 54, do, together with the rear portion 24 of the deck structure 23, define a window frame for the rear window d2.

Each rear pillar 46 may be of arcuate section (FIGURES 3, 6 and 7) so that a portion of each curves around at.

56 to embrace the rounded associated corner of the element 36. The portion 56 and the associated front pillar 44, together with 21 depending flange 53 on the roof 42 define, in conjunction with the side portion 22 of the deck structure 28, a side window frame which frames that portion of the element side wall 4-8 which affords the door v window, it being clear that a portion of the side wall 48 at each side extends ahead of the associated pillar 4-4 and blends into the windshield 553 in the conventional wrap around style. The box-like element as may thus be regarded as having front and rear walls and 52, respectively, and opposite side walls 33, the rectangular section thereof being such that it is congruent with the deck structure 21% so that when it is superimposed on the deck structure it substantially conforms thereto. Changes in the plane in the form of deviations from the horizontal plane (FEGURE 7) may be resorted to in the interests of styling. The structure or element 36 is preferably open at its top (FIGURE 8) in the interests of convenience and economy in manufacture. However, as already said, the material of which the element 36 is formed is relatively rigid and has substantial strength both foreand-aft as well as laterally, foreand-aft opposite side portions 58 and a transverse flange portion at} contributing to this strength. These portions 53 and 6%, together with the top marginal edge of the rear window pane 52, as at 52, underlie the undersurface of the cab top or roof 42 when the vehicle is assembled (FIGURE 5). The lower-marginal edges of the unit or element walls id, 5%} and 52 rest of course on the portions 22, 24- and 26 of the deck structure 28 and, when the cab top 34 is in place, the unit 36 is confined against vertical escape (FIGURES 4 and 5). The upward forward curve of the deck structure 28 (FIG- URES 6 and 7) contributes largely to prevent forward escape of the unit 36 from the completed vehicle, but further means are provided for this purpose. This means takes the form, at opposite sides of the unit 35, of thickened portions 64 of the side walls 43 which lie respectively rearwardly of the pillars 44 (EEGURES 3 and 8).

The design of the structure is such that the cab 3% may be pie-assembled on the deck structure iii; in the absence of the unit 36, which is a desideraturn to the painting oporation, since, if the window unit 36 were previously installed, it would have to be masked to prevent the application of paint thereto. The mounting of the cab 34 on the deck structure 28 will now be described.

Each of the pillars 4'4 and 45 depends from the cab roof 42 to a terminal free end and these ends are arranged generally in rectangular fashion to correspond respective ly with the generally rectangular arrangement of the deck structure slots 3-8 and 4%). T he terminal ends of the rear pillars 45 are identified by the numerals 65, and each of these is in the form of a transversely directed cam and hook element 68. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, the transverse dimension between the outer extremities of the elements 68 is initially greater than that between the outer extremities of the slots However, the pillars 46, being resilient in themselves and being attached to the cab roof 42 by being integral therewith and thus participating in the resilience of the cab roof, are capacitated to have this dimension reduced during assembly. In other words, the cab is initially placed on top of the deck structure with the terminal ends 66 partially penetrating the respective slots 4%, following which the application of a downward force springs the legs or pillars 46 inwardly so that the elements 63 snap respectively under the bordering or associated portions of the deck structure adjacent the respective apertures all. The shape of the pillars 46 in the area designated by the numeral "it? affords a downward stop, thus locking the rear portion of the cab to the rear portion of the deck structure. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the relative fore-and-aft dimensions of the slots 4% and elements 66 are such that there is a limited amount of looseness so that actually the pre-assernbled cab, connected by the connections at 4tll6 can pivot about a transverse axis generally through these rear connections. This is important for several reasons. In the first place,

. as shown in FEGURE 6, the connections are capable of withstanding inversion of the vehicle and when the vehicle a is inverted during the painting operation, the cab cannot become detached, because the bias in the pillars 46 capacitates these pillars for recovering the initial dimension in excess of that between the slots 4% so that the hook parts of the elements 63 hook under the associated portions of the deck structure element 2- Consequently, the entire vehicle can be painted, the inside of the cab 34 as well as the outside thereof, all without the installation of the transparent unit 36.

The other function of the pivotal connections at 4l6 is that the cab 34 may be tilted upwardly and rearwardly (FIGURE 7) to permit the installation of the unit 36, all

without separating the connections at 40-45. After the unit 36 is seated in place on the deck structure 28, the cab 34- is pressed downwardly and forwardly and the lower terminal ends '72 of the front pillars enter the respective slots 38. Here again, each terminal end 72 is in the form of a cam and hook element 74, being separated from a stop portion 76 by a slot 78. The resilient relationship between each pillar 44 and its associated rear pillar 46 is such that the fore-and-aft distance between the pillars is slightly greater than that between the associated front and rear slots 33 and 49. However, when downward pressure is exerted on the cab, the pillars may spring or yield so that this dimension is reduced sufficiently to enable penetration of the slots 38 by the elements 74-,

the slot '78 receiving the associated deck portion so that v the element 74 hooks under this deck portion. the stop 76 serving to limit downward movement of the cab. As regards the appearance of the element 74 on the lower end of each pillar 44-, it might be said that each rear pillar has an identical appearance except that it is in a plane 99 from that of each front pillar.

Once assembled, the cab 34, unit 36 and remainder of the vehicle as represented by the part 10, remains connected during all normal usage; although, it is possible 7 with the application of adequate force and care to spring the respective pillars sufiiciently to enable disengagement thereof from the associated slots.

One significant advantage, already covered to some extent, of the pivotal connections at 4066, is that it leaves the cab 34 free for pivoting sufiiciently to enable insertion of the unit 36, which is not possible in constructions in which a partial or preliminary connection is established between the front pillars and the deck structure. That is to say, with a partial connection as just described, there is insufficient room to enable the entry of a unit such as that at 36 and therefore such prior constructions cannot embody the desirable one-piece box-like element which affords the windshield 50, side window portions 48 and rear window portion or pane 52.

Although the structure has been described in terms of its design and construction of sheet metal, it will be readily seen that other materials having similar characteristics may be employed in the exploitation of the invention. Likewise, features and advantages other than those categorically enumerated will readily occur to those versed in the art, as will many modifications and alterations in thepreferred embodiment disclosed, all of which may be achieved without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy vehicle: a for-e-and-aft body having horizontal deck structure including front, rear and opposite side portions defining a generally rectangular open-topped compartment; a one-piece box-like element of relatively rigid transparent material, open at its top and bottom and superimposed over and generally congruent with the cornpartment and having substantially upright front, rear and opposite side walls resting on and rising respectively from said deck structure portions; and a top element superimposed over said box-like element and including a roof overlying and closing the open top of said box-like element, and support members connected to said roof and depending externally of said box-like element and closely alongside an opposed pair of said walls and secured to said deck structure to retain said box-like element in place, said members including a pair of transversely spaced front members exposing a substantial portion of said front wall as a windshield and a pair of rear members spaced apart transversely to expose a portion of said rear wall as a rear window pane and spaced rearwardly respectively from the front members to expose portions of the opposite side walls respectively as opposite side window panes, said rear members lying behind said rear wall to confine the element against rearward displacement, said front members lying respectively alongside the element sidewalls to confine the element against lateral displacement, and said sidewalls respectively having means thereon engaging the front members to confine said element against forward displacement.

2. In a toy vehicle: a fore-and-aft body having an upwardly facing deck including a front pair of transversely spaced and alined, vertically opening fore-and-aft slots and a rear pair of transversely spaced and alined transverse slots; a top including a roof overlying and spaced above the deck and front and rear pairs of pillars connected to and depending from the roof respectively to free lower ends arranged generally in correspondence with said slots; said ends each having thereon a single cam and hook element adapted to enter its respective slot and to hook under the associated portion of the deck, each rear element being transversely directed and each front element being directed fore-and-aft; said rear elements having a transverse spacing slightly different from that of the rear slots and said rear pillars being capacitated for temporary distortion from and biased for recovery of said spacing to effectuate a pair of rear connections between said rear ends and rear slots capable of withstanding separation upon inversion of the vehicle prior to entry of the front elements into the front slots, and said rear elements and rear slots being further dimensioned as to enable pivoting of the top relative to the deck about a transverse axis generally through said connections preparatory to entry of the front elements into the front slots; and each front element and the rear element at the same side of the body having a fore-and-aft spacing slightly different from that of the corresponding front and rear slots and said front and rear pillars being capacitated for temporary fore-andaft distortion from and biased for recovery of said spacing to effectuate a pair of front connections operative to lock the top to the deck.

3. In a toy vehicle: a fore-and-aft body having an upwardly facing deck including front, rear and opposite side portions arranged generally as a rectangle, said deck having four vertically opening apertures, one substantially at each corner of said rectangle; a top including a roof overlying and spaced above the deck and four pillars connected to and depending from the roof respectively to free lower ends receivable respectively by the apertures; and each end having an interlocking portion thereon cooperative with the deck in the area of the respective aperture, and certain of said pillars being paired as a first pair and biased relative to each other in a direction transverse to the length of the body and certain additional ones of said pillars being paired with those of the first pair to provide second and third pairs biased relative to each other in fore-and-aft directions for eifectuating and retaining the interlock between the pillars and the deck.

4. The invention defined in claim 2, including: a onepiece box-like element of transparent relatively rigid material and of rectangular section generally congruent at its bottom with the deck and at its top with the roof, said element being sandwiched between the deck and roof and having generally upright front, rear and opposite side walls rising respectively from corresponding front, rear and opposite side portions of the deck, said top being pivotable away from the deck about said axis in an amount sufficient to enable insertion of said element between the deck and roof, said element being ultimately retained by the pillars and the connections between said pillars and deck upon pivoting of the top back to the deck and said pillars being relatively narrow to expose substantial areas of said walls respectively as front, rear and opposite side window panes.

5. In a toy vehicle: a fore-and-aft body having an upwardly facing deck; a top including a roof overlying and spaced above the deck and a pair of transversely spaced apart and alined front pillars connected to and depending from the roof to free terminal ends at the deck and a pair of transversely spaced apart and alined rear pillars spaced rearwardly of the front pillars and connected to and depending from the roof to free terminal ends at the deck structure; and four vertically registering snap-in interlock means, one for each pillar, between the pillar ends and the deck and operative to connect solely upon downward force applied to the top, and said four pillars being biased relative to each other in directions transverse to their length for normally preventing separation of the interlock means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,610,442 Bonanno Sept. 16, 1942 2,916,851 Groschen Dec. 15, 1959 3,009,288 Klamer Nov. 21, 1961 

3. IN A TOY VEHICLE: A FORE-AND-AFT BODY HAVING AN UPWARDLY FACING DECK INCLUDING FRONT, REAR AND OPPOSITE SIDE PORTIONS ARRANGED GENERALLY AS A RECTANGLE, SAID DECK HAVING FOUR VERTICALLY OPENING APERTURES, ONE SUBSTANTIALLY AT EACH CORNER OF SAID RECTANGLE; A TOP INCLUDING A ROOF OVERLYING AND SPACED ABOVE THE DECK AND FOUR PILLARS CONNECTED TO AND DEPENDING FROM THE ROOF RESPECTIVELY TO FREE LOWER ENDS RECEIVABLE RESPECTIVELY BY THE APERTURES; AND EACH END HAVING AN INTERLOCKING PORTION THEREON COOPERATIVE WITH THE DECK IN THE AREA OF THE RESPECTIVE APERTURE, AND CERTAIN OF SAID PILLARS BEING PAIRED AS A FIRST PAIR AND BIASED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE LENGTH OF THE BODY AND CERTAIN ADDITIONAL ONES OF SAID PILLARS BEING PAIRED WITH THOSE OF THE FIRST PAIR TO PROVIDE SECOND AND THIRD PAIRS BIASED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER IN FORE-AND-AFT DIRECTIONS FOR EFFECTUATING AND RETAINING THE INTERLOCK BETWEEN THE PILLARS AND THE DECK. 